The Healthy Foodie:  Eat right, live well

By Pama Mitchell, with Mary Ann Barnes, M.D.

What a complicated relationship we Americans have with food! We use it to give solace when we’re low and as a reward when we’re happy. We live in fear of eating the wrong things, and suffer pangs of guilt when we do. We follow diet fads as if they were the Final Answer, but consider ourselves failures when those diets don’t hold up over the long haul.

The Healthy Foodie believes it doesn’t have to be that difficult. By following a few simple principles, we can improve our physical health, take great pleasure in eating, and quiet that inner voice that makes our relationship with food such a struggle.

The Healthy Foodie’s most important principles, in order, are:

§         Be active—exercise or physical activity really is the key, because the more you exercise, the more you can eat!

§         Minimize (or eliminate) junk foods, especially trans fats and saturated fats.

§         Chow down on fruits and veggies at all meals and for most snacks.

§         Practice portion control. 

While simple doesn’t always mean easy to do, these principles can help sort out the often-confusing media messages about diet and health.

Here are a couple of recipes that we love. White Beans and Veggies, Provence Style, is a quick, delicious supper for four, and the Pumpkin Nut Loaf is perfect for breakfast, teatime or dessert. Dr. Mary Ann Barnes, a specialist in weight control and nutrition, comments about the health benefits of the key ingredients in these dishes. We hope you enjoy them!